What Will Be the Trends Impacting Fire Departments in 2018?

If we peer into the crystal ball, what will we see in 2018? For fire departments, we see data playing an important role in providing smarter response plans, as well as the need to better report on outcomes as budget scrutiny increases.

Below, we explore four trends we believe will have an impact on fire departments in 2018. For a deeper look at each of these trends and recommended actions, download our Fire Predictions for 2018 whitepaper.

Accreditation will increase in importance: Accreditation for fire departments will become increasingly more important going into 2018 as organizations look to secure funding through grants for personnel and equipment. Additionally, accreditation will help improve ISO ratings and lower costs for insurance for customers served by fire departments.

Visibility and accessibility to data will be essential: Access to and the use of data is going to become more and more essential for fire departments (as well as EMS and hospitals). Data and proper data analysis will enable quicker responses and smarter decisions about lead indicators for certain types of fires, certain types of injuries and certain types of illnesses. Additionally, we’ll see integration of data and sharing of information between fire departments and EMS organizations. Data will allow for creating smarter response plans and call-type predication, leading to the ability to provide safer events for responders.

Budget scrutiny will increase: As the types of calls many fire departments are responding to continue to shift (from fire emergencies to medical emergencies), budget scrutiny from city council and other local governing bodies will increase. The increased scrutiny will put pressure on fire departments to better track how dollars are being spent and create benchmarks to measure relevant outcomes.

Retaining talent and preserving knowledge will be paramount: There will likely be an exodus of talent and knowledge over the next five years as industry veterans that serve in leadership roles retire out of the system. Fire departments will need to create a twofold strategy to attract and recruit new and emerging talent as well as preserve institutional knowledge that will be walking out the door.

How are these trends affecting you and your organization? Download Fire Predictions for 2018 for suggested tips and recommendation to face these trends head on.